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Introduction

Two curious facts distinguish the Passport from every other sport/utility on the market. First, it wears the Honda emblem, marking the first time Honda has ventured outside the realm of cars and motorcycles. Second, unlike any other vehicle you�ll find in a Honda showroom, the Passport isn�t really a Honda at all. Rather, the Passport is an Isuzu. An Isuzu Rodeo, to be exact. Both vehicles are built on the same assembly line at the Subaru-Isuzu joint venture facility in Indiana and share everything except minor trim, emblems and grilles. We hasten to add that curious doesn�t equate with bad in this case. There�s nothing wrong with the Rodeo. But over the years we�ve come to look for technological leadership, recognizable style and intense attention to fit-and-finish details from Honda. As a result, finding the Honda emblem on a vehicle made by another company is surprise. The Passport is a good vehicle. But it may not meet everyone�s expectations of what a Honda should be. In choosing Isuzu for a supplier, Honda got what it needed: A vehicle that could go on sale immediately, built by a company capable of producing a best seller (which the Rodeo is). And Isuzu has plenty of experience in building body-on-frame vehicles, as distinct from the unit-body construction used in most passenger cars. Honda does not. Choosing the Passport over the Rodeo does have one major advantage: Honda�s dealer network is significantly larger than Isuzu�s. More dealers means wider access to service and parts. On the other hand, Passport prices are slightly higher than those for equivalent Rodeos, and Isuzu�s basic warranty covers the Rodeo for an additional 15,000 miles during the same 3-year period.